Spanish Balearic isle of Majorca has more to it than just love
I KNOW no one watches Love Island for the scenery, but between clips of people snogging each other, you get a glimpse of the lush island of Majorca.
On my visit to the Spanish Balearic isle, I was dipping my toes in a pool just minutes from where this year’s singletons are battling it out for affection.
My hotel, the 5H Tui Blue Sensatori Biomar, is a 90-minute drive from Palma airport, close to Sa Coma beach and a 20-minute drive to the Love Island villa.
But instead of raunchy and rowing couples, the only thing guests have to worry about is which sunbed will give them the best sea view and what cocktail they want to slurp on next.
The resort is a gem for fly-and-flop holidaymakers, with seven restaurants, a kids’ club and spa.
My room was in the newly opened adults-only section and felt like pure luxury the moment I stepped inside.
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Sliding glass doors lead on to a terrace with super-comfy day beds overlooking a private pool.
There is a spacious lounge, a bed so big I disappeared into it and a chic en suite with freestanding tub.
Having the luxury of a swim-up suite meant that each morning I could take a tranquil dip in complete privacy, with views of the surrounding green landscape laid out in front of me.
Like many all-inclusive resorts, if you want a splat holiday — where you do your best starfish impression on a sunlounger for a week — you’ll never find a reason to leave.
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It has five brilliant swimming pools, a buffet restaurant, three a la carte choices, and enough bars for you to have a cocktail in a different one each day of the week.
But as someone who seeks a bit of adventure when jetting off, I was excited to see more of the island.
My first morning in sunny Sa Coma began with 7am yoga at the hotel — which proved a challenge after sipping one too many Aperol spritzes the night before.
It may sound like an early start when you’re on holiday, but if it were any later I’d have been sweating buckets in the sun.
Plus, there’s nothing quite like that smug feeling of knowing you’ve already smashed a workout when striding to the breakfast buffet.
My active day continued with a guided hike through the nearby nature reserve, Punta de n’Amer, known for its magnificent flora and fauna, sandy scrubs and coastal wildlife.
Wandering through the shrubs, our eagle-eyed tour guide was first to notice a tiny tortoise emerge from the greenery, making its way across the sandy path in front of us, before disappearing back into the trees.
It felt as if I was somewhere much more exotic than a few minutes from our grand hotel, hiking through the beautiful park and along rocky pastures.
This island is famed for gorgeous beaches and luxury hotels but few people come here to explore its parks and mountains — and they’re well worth a visit if you have the stamina.
If the views from the park aren’t enough to satisfy your appetite for magnificent scenery, make your way north, along the winding Sa Calobra road where you’ll pass through layers of rocky mountains for eight miles, before reaching the sea.
GO: Majorca
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Tui Blue Sensatori Biomar is from £1,165pp per person based on two adults sharing a double room with balcony and including flights from Gatwick in July plus transfers.
See , visit your local Tui holiday store or download the Tui app.
It’s a popular route with cyclists — and anyone donning Lycra to power up the mountain in the hot sun deserves a medal — but it’s safer (and easier) to drive the 25-minute journey.
With more than 50 twists and turns, the route — called the Torrent de Pareis — is not for the faint-hearted, but the sites are spectacular and the road itself is like something out of a Bond film, resembling a piece of spaghetti winding through the hills.
The reward at the other end is breathtaking too.
Suddenly the mountains fall away and you are left with a stunning view of the rocky coastline, glowing under the sun’s bright beam.
If you make it this far, treat yourself to paella and sangria in one of the restaurants tucked into the coves down by the sea.
But don’t eat too much as you’ll want to make sure you pop into the sea for a paddle afterwards.
Once I’d clapped eyes on the crystal clear water, I could not resist kicking off my trainers and running straight for it.
If you’re not one for getting your toes wet, then take the short boat ride to Port de Soller, where you’ll get great sea views without needing to make a splash.
The pretty seaside village is hidden in a horseshoe-shaped bay in the northwest of the island and it would be all too easy to while away an afternoon here in one of the popular cafes along the marina.
But the main attraction is the vintage tram which takes you inland to the town and is a must for anyone visiting.
These wooden trams were made in 1913 and are a fun way to get from the beach to the town, passing through orange groves, forests and tunnels.
After all that time roaming the sleepy towns, you’ll feel extremely grateful for the huge spa and hydrothermal circuit back at the hotel.
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Free to use, it has Turkish baths, ice fountains and pools with powerful jets that can work out even the toughest knots in your muscles.
As I dangled my feet in the cold pool, watching the sun set over Sa Coma beach, I almost started to feel sorry for the Love Island hopefuls trapped in a villa with a dozen sunkissed models unable to explore the beauty of Majorca. Almost.
